While visually gorgeous, the storytelling is confusing, overburdened with characters, and it left me feeling like I wasn’t in the club. None of the other movies made me feel this way. And the ending, which was supposed to be such a “reveal,” made my head spin. I had no idea what had just happened. Didn’t understand the contact. And I am a diehard Harry Potter fan. The acting is great, the casting is great—but the actual arc of the story didn’t make it into my heart. So it’s a waste of a lot of great talent, if you ask me.

43 of 52 helpful votes

TL

Tina L

Made purely for the sake of the next movie so they can grab more money. No logic what-so-ever with the storyline. Special effect is very good but what good is it if the storyline makes you want to break the screen?

23 of 31 helpful votes

LH

Li H

Metacritic

The first Fantastic Beasts was a bit of a mess. The second one is actively bad. The longer this spinoff franchise goes on, the more damage it does to the legacy of the Harry Potter series — which knew not to overstay its welcome. Fantastic Beasts 2 has plenty of spells, wands, and wizards — and absolutely no magic whatsoever.

The sequel has better and at times galvanizing special effects, a darker tone and a high-stakes battle between good and evil. Best of all, its characters are more vibrantly drawn, and tangled in relationships that range from delightful to lethal.